4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (15 May - Results & Review)
2. Gunther Gives and Keys Thrives
After that, between the ropes when it counted, both men smashed it.
Gunther is a very giving heel these days, and that's working for him. It makes his matches well-rounded and works a treat when he’s in there with powerhouses like Royce Keys who can realistically push back against his domineering style. This was a high profile position for Keys to be in, and he did well with it. His tale with Solo Sikoa might be lukewarm, but this bout was a legitimately fresh main event for SmackDown and that made for a welcome change of pace.
Gunther was always winning to get to Clash In Italy and that match vs. Cody, but Royce can be proud of his work on Friday night. Cody dropping Gunther post-match was the cherry on top of the cake, because that brought things back round to the real issue: Rhodes fending off a new threat who nonetheless has some history with him in select Royal Rumble matches.
WWE's creative squad deserves praise for booking things this way. Keys got to show out more than he ever could in squashes against stragglers like Los Garza, and Gunther did what he does better than most: He wrestled a robust match with some cool twists and turns before a conclusive finish.
Then, right at the end of SmackDown, WWE put a bow on the upcoming Clash In Italy main event. They're really doing a wonderful job with these World Title storylines, and that should be spotlighted. It isn't always the case.